Thanksgiving 2011

My youngest daughter and her boyfriend

 

    On Sunday, I had Canadian Thanksgiving with three of my children and my youngest daughter’s boyfriend. Thanksgiving Day or Jour de l'Action de grâce (fr.) is an annual Canadian statutory holiday which occurs at the end of the harvest season and is before the American one because of the northern climate`s earlier harvest. I believe that Columbus Day in the States is on the same day. The Kitchener – Waterloo Oktoberfest parade in western Ontario is today followed by a three day beer and German food festival.

Since 1969, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest has developed its own traditions, becoming the largest Bavarian festival in North America with the greatest Thanksgiving Day Parade in Canada. Thousands of visitors celebrate annually in our Festhallen, and by attending one or more of our 40 family and cultural events. Through the celebration of this Spirit of Gemuetlichkeit, the local economy is stimulated and over 70 charities and not-for-profit organizations raise funds to support the high quality of life enjoyed in Kitchener-Waterloo. Willkommen to you, your family and friends.

Thanksgiving dinner

 

   I had Turkey with stuffing, beets, apple salad, mashed potatoes, homemade buns, squash and gravy for the main course. For dessert, I ate homemade pumpkin pie as well as homemade apple (northern spy) with whipped cream. The wine was a white German Spätlese (late harvest) to compliment the main course and an Ontario Niagara region ice-wine to go with desert. Certainly filling!

Homemade pumpkin pie with whipped cream

Homemade apple pie